Page 39 of His Baby Her Gift

He wanted to believe that, but every burner in the kitchen was emitting gas. Harlem may have unintentionally bumped into one, but all four? Carter didn’t think it was possible to do, and it goes unnoticed. James’ words also played in his head on an endless loop.I came on around eleven, and she left out the front doors instead of the garage around eleven-fifteen. That’s why I figured she was with you.

Was James mistaken? Was this situation something other than an accident? Was he paranoid? Carter wasn’t sure. He didn’t voice any of his concerns to Harlem.

“I called your mom and dad. They’ll be up later today.”

“You called my mom and dad? Was that necessary?” Harlem frowned. “They are going to be worried out of their minds.”

“I did exactly what I would have wanted someone to do if I were in their shoes. Your condo hasn’t been deemed safe enough to return yet, so you’ll be staying with me until it is.”

“I think you’re overreacting,” Harlem said. “There was probably already a gas leak, and we just didn’t know it.”

“Maybe I am overacting, but that’s my prerogative.”

*****

Harlem had had enough. She was ready to go. “We’ve been at this hospital all day. What’s taking so long to get discharged?”

“It’s only one-thirty, Harlem,” Carter said calmly. “We haven’t been here all day.”

“It feels like it.”

“I’m going to need you to relax. Dr. Jones will release you after he’s sure you’re good to go.”

Harlem was anxious. She just wanted to get into Carter’s bed and go to sleep. Hospitals were the absolute worst place to rest. “They already told me that the baby’s fine. If she’s fine. Then, so am I.”

“You do realize you’re acting like a spoiled two-year-old, right?”

“I just think this is overkill. Knowing you, you’re probably in cahoots with Dr. Jones in holding me hostage.”

“Yep. That’s exactly it.” Carter shook his head.

His phone buzzed. He had been ignoring it all day and hadn’t looked at it since everything happened the night before. Carter figured now would be a great time to check messages. Several were from his assistant, several from an unknown caller, one from his mother, and two more from an unknown caller.

Charlotte rarely ever called him. It was unusual to see her number on the screen. Something told Carter to listen to her message. However, before he could play his voice-mails, Dr. Jones strolled into their room. “Harlem Thomas. How are you feeling?”

Finally!She screamed inwardly. However, her actual response was much more subdued. “I’m more than a little ready to go home.”

He smiled broadly. “I think we can make that a reality. It took a little longer than I would have liked for your final test results to come through, but all appears to be well. You can go home, but I want to see you in my office in one week.”

Harlem nodded. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Good. I know it’s been a long night. So, I’ve already signed the discharge papers.”

Carter shook his hand, and so did Harlem. A nurse appeared out of nowhere with a wheelchair.

“I don’t need that.” She said.

“It’s regulation.” Dr. Jones responded. “You’ve got to sit in it.”

“Sit. Down. Harlem.” Carter said firmly. He gave her a look that clearly said, I will do it for you if you don’t sit voluntarily.

Harlem returned Carter’s look with a frustrated one of her own. However, she did sit down in the chair.

He ignored her as they made their way to the front entrance. Once they arrived, Carter pulled his keys out of his back pocket. “I’ll go get the car.”

Carter wanted to make a few phone calls and didn’t want to do it in front of her. As he walked over to his car, he lifted his cell and was reminded that he had a message from his mother.Contact with Charlottetwice in one year. It had to be some kind of record.His knee-jerk reaction was to ignore it, but something else told him to listen.

Carter clicked on the message. His initial reaction to the sound of her voice stopped him cold. Charlotte sounded anxious and . . . scared.

---